🌱 February Newsletter

City Blossoms Inc. Urban Farms | St. Louis Urban Agriculture & Community Growing

Zone 6b | Average Last Frost Date: April 15

February marks the start of seed starting season in St. Louis. While winter is still here, this is the time to prepare for a productive spring garden. At City Blossoms Inc. Urban Farms, we are focused on growing strong transplants indoors and teaching our community how to do the same while saving money and building food independence.

💰 Save Money by Starting Your Own Vegetable Transplants

Starting your own vegetable plants from seed is one of the easiest ways to reduce garden costs and improve crop success. Instead of paying four to six dollars per plant at garden centers this spring, you can grow dozens of healthy plants for the same cost as one store bought transplant.

What You Need to Start Seeds Indoors

A basic grow simple LED shop light works well for indoor seed starting. There is no need for expensive specialty equipment. Keep lights two to three inches above seedlings to prevent weak, stretched growth.

A simple seed starting mix You can create an affordable soil mix at home by combining:

50 percent coco coir

50 percent perlite

Worm castings, optional not necessity. If adding, change recipe to 1/3 each.

This mix provides strong drainage, airflow, and moisture balance, which helps seedlings develop healthy roots. It is lightweight, clean, and budget friendly.

Also recycle containers you already have like water bottles, empty strawberry containers. Almost anything can be converted to a mini greenhouse or plant pot. No need to break the bank, recycle.

Growing your own transplants gives you control over plant varieties, soil inputs, and growing practices. It also supports local food production and strengthens household food security. Seed starting is not just gardening. It is a step toward community resilience.

🥬 What We Are Starting This Month at City Blossoms

February is ideal for starting both cool season greens and warm season vegetables indoors in the St. Louis region. This month we are seeding

Collard greens

Mustard greens

Lettuce

Bok choy

Swiss chard

Tomatoes

Peppers

Kohlrabi

Kale

Cabbage

Broccoli

Cauliflower

Basil

Parsley

By mid April, these plants will be strong, rooted, and ready to transition outdoors for spring planting.

🥕 Community Produce Giveaway Season Begins Soon

City Blossoms Inc. is preparing for another season of fresh produce distribution. Our community produce giveaway days are expected to begin in late April. Location details and distribution times will be announced soon on our website and social media channels.

We are proud to grow food that supports families, improves health access, and strengthens our local food system.

🐔 The Bok Bok Baddies Join Our Urban Farm

We are excited to share that City Blossoms Inc. has welcomed chickens to the farm. The Bok Bok Baddies are settling into their new coop and already contributing to our regenerative growing system.

The "Bok Bok Baddies" chicken mansion stands proudly complete, featuring a charming blue exterior with cream accents, a flower box, and a welcoming ramp for its feathered residents.

Chickens support soil health through natural fertilizer, help reduce pest pressure, improve compost systems, and will eventually provide eggs for community programming. Expanding our urban agriculture systems allows us to grow smarter, reduce waste, and increase long term sustainability.

🎓 Youth Programs, School Partnerships, and Service Opportunities

City Blossoms Inc. continues to expand youth programming across St. Louis. Community service hours are available for high school students who want hands on experience in urban farming, food justice education, and environmental stewardship.

Students gain skills in seed starting, transplant production, composting, farm maintenance, and community engagement while contributing to real food access work.

For information about student involvement or volunteer opportunities, contact us at 314-898-5020.

We are also excited to begin our Jennings Junior High and Senior High garden education programs this season. Students will participate in interactive farm based learning, leadership development, and real world food system education. We are proud to invest in the next generation of growers and community leaders.

Spring is approaching and we are ready to grow together.

Visit cityblossomsurbanfarms.org for updates, workshops, volunteer opportunities, and community announcements.

City Blossoms Inc. Urban Farms Educating. Growing. Feeding Community.